Did Someone Say Build Thread?!!

[sparkfly88]

That pin striping is so nice looking!!!!


And here I thought I got mine for a steal

[DGXSER]

Well, yours may have been a better bargain. This thing has rust in places I never thought would rust.

As it turns out, the tank has rust through the paint on both sides, enough that it will look poor for me to try to patch the paint in, especially when the current paint is the factory red metal flake. So having patches with no flake will not work out. So, all that nice pin striping will probably need to go and maybe be redone. I am certain I would not be able to match the paint colors, and all of it on the tank will need to be redone. Probable need to paint the front fender as well now, so it will need to be striped to match.

When I took the petcocks apart, the seals inside were probably the worse I have ever seen. Almost crumbly, yet stuck like glue to the petcock. The gas cap seal was like a burnt piece of bread. Cracked and dried out, and about turned to dust when you tried to peel it off.

I know the bike sat for a long time, but wow, does it seem like this thing sat in a rough environment for those long years. Not a garage as it seemed when I saw the ad and picked it up.

Hopefully I can find a couple shims I need for the valves, get the cover back on, and install the auto cam chain tensioner. Then I can take the spare set of carbs I have and the tank off my SH and see if it will fire up this weekend perhaps.

[CKlamer]

I am going through the exact same thing with a 79 Standard.
Just picked mine up a few months ago for the same price.
The only advantage is mine was local.
I didn't have to haul it very far.

But mine is a rust bucket. The gas tank was full and the battery box was so bad I had to cut most of it out and find another box.

Right now I have my engine builder fixing a stripped spark plug hole and checking the engine to make sure it's worth putting anymore time and money in to.

I will eventually take it down to the frame and get it powder coated back to black and have everything repainted.

But hopefully she will be a runner in several months.

Good Luck.

[jetmechmarty]

CKlamer,

You have until the end of Sept. You will be expected at XS Southeast.

[DGXSER]

Well, I got the shims today. Put them in and in the process of cleaning up the valve cover. I also got some old used Metal Rescue in the tank, see how much it will do for it with a 12 hour soak or so.

I did find out that someone had taken the gas cap apart before. It is missing one of the screws that hold the lock in place, it is also missing the latch plate that sits on the lock and works the clasp. So I guess I will take apart the cap on the SH and make a duplicate piece for it.

Hopefully tomorrow I will get it back together enough to start it up. IF I do, I'll post a video of it.

[STEPPENWOLF]

Don,I think I have a gas cap.Not positive..

[DGXSER]

Well, the wait is over. I used my spare carbs, and the tank off the SH. Here is the video of the inaugural running of the new patient!!



So now comes the hard work. Pulling all the parts off, ordering the parts needed, and then the buffing and polishing stage. I will post progress as it happens. Today I got one caliper pulled off, but compressed air will not budge it and as it turns out, I am out of grease in my grease gun. So that is the next thing to get so I can pull these calipers open and clean them up.

[bikerphil]

The motor sounds great, thay smoke should clear right up. BTW, the vid link you posted doesn't work, I had to go to your PB album to find it.

[DGXSER]

OK, I forgot I have to use Youtube for video and not photobucket for some reason.

Here is the link to the video...

It Runs!!!

No 4 was the cylinder that seemed stuck, so I had it filled completely with MMO. So I knew I had gotten it down the exhaust header and expected smoke from that side. Since the bike had flat tires, it drug going on the trailer and both exhaust clamps for two and three headers got broken. So I was expecting it to leak there.

[ESJr1642]

Congrats! Nice job, sounds good.

[DGXSER]

Thanks Guys, I like the way it sounds also!

Well, I started the tear down now that I got it running. Parts list grows of course. Took the front end apart, calipers are being a PITA to get apart. One side is missing the lock nut and lock washer on the caliper mounting bolt. I may replace all of them rather than try to get them de-rusted anyway.

Here it is as it sits for the night....


Most of the front end parts, lots of polishing to get rid of rust required....


So I knew I needed fork seals, almost a given on these bikes that sit. The steering stem bearings was a bit of a crap shoot, looks like they will need to be replaced...


So the parts list grows, and progress is made. The fun is just beginning I am sure.

[Gallaecus]

nice job getting it running !!! congrats... !!!
it does sound good.
I always try to make em stop, before i make em go.
the temptation is too great.

[DGXSER]

OK, so does any one have a pic of a drift they have used to get the lower race out of the steering head? I bought a set of cheap screw drivers to sacrifice one to make a long drift from. I carved the sides down so it would fit in those lands in the neck to get to the edge of the bearing race, bent the end over so it would get in tight, and beveled the edge so it was pointed toward the neck side to get the meat of the race and not the edge. It continually slides off instead of driving that race out.





For taking the dremel approach, how deep can I cut before I get into the steering head? If the socket is the same shape as the upper, then it is going to be a shallow cut with a cut off wheel or I may cut the steering tube from looking at it.

[DGXSER]

Double post.

[jetmechmarty]

I had to cut my bottom race with a Dremel. Getting in there is not easy. I was unable to do it any other way.